Sustainable Santa Fe Guide 2009 - an Earth Care International Publication

On November 11th, 2007, the Buckman Direct Diversion Board sent a letter to LANL management requesting “commitment” and “cooperation” from the DOE, LANL, and Los Alamos National Security, LLC (headed by Bechtel Corporation). The BDD Board expressed concern about three pathways for LANL toxics:

Buried transuranic and other radiological contaminants in Río Grande sediments deposited in the former river channel (slough) located immediately upstream of the BDD river diversion site;
Contaminants in the waters of the Río Grande that reach the river from sediments in canyons on the Pajarito Plateau that are transported to the BDD diversion location during stormwater and snowmelt events; and
Contaminants that have reached the regional aquifer that provides water to the Buckman well field.

The BDD Board requested that DOE and LANL fund and implement six actions to protect public drinking water supplies:

Stop migration of LANL contaminants to the Río Grande and to groundwater;
Monitor the transport of legacy contaminants in surface and groundwater systems;
Measure the radioactive and toxic contamination of buried sediments in the slough upstream of the BDD diversion site;
Provide an early warning system so the BDD can temporarily cease diversion when the Río Grande might contain elevated levels of LANL contaminants;
Monitor any LANL-origin contaminants diverted with BDD raw water supplies and account for that mass in water treatment plant residuals and treated drinking water;
Provide funding for the BDD Board to retain independent review regarding LANL-origin contaminants.

The Environmental Protection Agency is considering two permits that have direct relevance to the BDD project. One is a permit for the BDD that would allow for the return of filtered sediment from the BDD treatment plant to the Río Grande. The other permit is a stormwater runoff permit for LANL. Given the concern of the BDD Board regarding radionuclides and other toxics in Río Grande sediments, it is important to realize that the EPA cannot regulate some nuclear pollutants because the federal government has given that responsibility to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Given the fact that the pathway of concern for LANL toxics is stormwater runoff into the Río Grande, it is imperative to know what the EPA is going to allow LANL to do in this regard.

The BDD Board has asked for “commitment” from LANL and the DOE. In 2005, LANL and the DOE signed a Consent Order with the NMED that requires LANL to do a complete assessment of all contaminated sites at the lab and perform a fence-to-fence cleanup. Almost before the ink was dry on the Order, LANL and DOE began missing deadlines set by the Order and have repeatedly said that they do not have the resources to meet the demands of the Order, asking for delays or the re-writing of the Order.

DOE lacks credibility when it comes to protecting drinking water supplies at their sites around the country. The Columbia, Snake, Clinch, and Savannah Rivers, sole source aquifers, and drinking water resources have all been severely contaminated by DOE nuclear weapons facilities.

In their letter to LANL and the DOE, the BDD Board stressed that “credibility of these efforts with the public water system customers that will be served by the BDD is very important to the BDD Board.”

Amigos Bravos, CCNS, Communities for Clean Water, and other concerned residents share the BDD Board’s concerns for water security and believe that by working together we can leave a legacy of sustainability for future Santa Feans. We want local officials to see the importance of having all the information disclosed. Complete and independent analysis with full participation by the public is a requisite to a well thought out and comprehensive plan.

Michael Jensen is with Amigos Bravos, a 20-year-old nationally recognized non-profit conservation organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the ecological and cultural integrity of New Mexico’s rivers and watersheds. Contact 575-758-3874 or visit the website: www.amigosbravos.org.

Editor’s note: In October 2008, the NM Environment Department released a study, which concluded that construction on the Buckman project won’t disturb contaminated soil near LANL. The report found “legacy contaminants” in sediments near but not within construction areas. Secretary Ron Curry stated that his department will “continue to aggressively monitor the area and require LANL to reduce the flow of storm water into the diversion to ensure that Santa Fe’s drinking water is safe.”